Rotary bolt for door latches



May 1, 1945.v R. SCHONITZER 2,374,840

ROTARY BOLT FOR DOOR LATCHES Filed Nov. 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1VENTOR: Ruooa PH 1. 5ua-rrzzn BY M 7 1/0119 A-r-roR YS.'

May 1, 1945.

R. l. SCHONITZER ROTARY BOLT FOR DOOR LATCHES Ffiled NOV. l9, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR: RUDOLPH I. 8c HON/TZER Patented May 1, 1945UNITED STATES ?ATENT OFFICE iROTAR-Y BOLT FOR DOOR'LATCHES Rudolph I.Schonitzer, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application November 19, 1941, SerialNo. 419,665

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved rotary latch bolt and to a methodof making such bolt. More particularly, the invention relates toa rotarybolt for use in a door latch of the type disclosed in United StatesPatent No. 2,224,512, issued December 10, 1940, to W. A. Endter.

'The door latch illustrated and described in the aforesaid Endter patentincludes a rotary bolt having, as integral parts thereof, a doggingportion and a latching portion. The dogging portion of the bolt consistsof a plurality of peripherally spaced dogging heads adapted to besuccessively engaged by suitable dogs during respectively' successiveoperations of the latch; and the latching portion of the bolt consistsof a. plurality of peripherally spaced latching heads adapted to besuccessively moved into latching engagement with a suitable keeper on acomplementary structural element during the aforesaid respectivelysuccessive operations of the latch, there being a latching headcorresponding to each dogging head. As a result, on engagement of thekeeper by a latching head, the corresponding dogging head issimultaneously engaged by one or more cooperating dogs. The said dogsare movable to spring biased abutting relationship with the dogging headto maintain latching engagement of a latching head with the keeper, and,on subsequent operation of a door handle (opera tively associated withthe said dogs), the dogs are displaced to permit rotary motion of thebolt,

whereby the said latching. head may be rotated out of latchingengagement with said keeper. Reference may be had to the above mentionedUnited States PatentNo. 2,224,512 for a more detailed description of adoor latch of the type hereinabove briefly referred to.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improvedrotary, bolt of the type above discussed and wherein the dogging andlatching portions of such bolt are assembled from r a plurality ofseparately formed laminations.

A further object is the provision of a rotary bolt of laminatedconstruction and wherein the several constituent laminations may bepreformed to final cam contour prior to assembly thereof.

A further object is the provision of a rotary bolt of the laminatedcharacter heretofore re ferred to. and wherein the laminations thereofare securely interlocked to form a unitary struc-.- ture. p

A further object is the provision of a rotary bolt of laminated form,the clogging portion thereof being assembled from a plurality oflaminations each adapted to be individually fabricated thereof may beformed from unlike'materials,

with such unlike lamir'iations alternately positioned, if desired, inthe assembled structure.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of novel andimproved steps in a method of manufacture of. a rotary bolt such asheretofore described.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious,or will appear as' the description thereof proceeds. p

In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 are fragmentary views of adoor latch of thetype disclosed in the'a foresaidEndter patent but'in-Chldll'lg a rotary bolt, of laminated form embodying the presentinvention, Fig. 1 being partlyin section and partly inelevation and Fig.2 being a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective, Viewof the: present improved rotary bolt; Fig. 4 is an exploded view, inside elevation and, on an, enlarged scaleof the several elements of saidrotary, bolt, the two locking pins there shown being in theirpre-locking form; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the laminationsof the dogging portion of the rotary bolt, as viewed from the line 5-5.of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the centraldisk which separatesthe latching portion of the'bolt from the dogging portion thereof.

as viewed'from the line;68 of Fig.4; Fig.7 is a side elevation pf one Ofthe laminations of the latching portion of thebolt, as viewed from thethe view being on the line 3-4! of Fig. 2.

Before thepresent invention is describedin detail, it is to beunderstood that such invention is not limited tcthe details ofconstruction or the specific arrangement of partsherei-n illustrated ordescribed, as the invention obviously may take other forms. It also isto be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed isfor the purpose of description and notof limitation, the scope of thepresent inventionbeing indicated by the claims.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the'refcrence numeral l0 designatesgenerally a rotarybolt embodying the present invention, said boltbeingmounted for free rotation on a stub shaft I l fixed in'a latch housingl2 carried by a door l3. 1 One vention is not limited thereto.

end portion I4 of said bolt, the outer end portion when the bolt ismounted in place, constitutes the latching portion thereof, and theother end portion I5 of said bolt constitutes the doggingportion'thereof. Each of such portions includes a series of peripherallyspaced heads, there being four latching heads which are adapted forcooperative engagement with a keeper (not shown) on the door frame (notshown), and a corresponding number of dogging heads for cooperativeengagement with aseries of dogs l6 swingably suspended on a pin I!carried by the latch housing I2. operation of the several parts Justreferred to need not be given herein, as such a description will befound in the'aforesaid Endter Patent No. 2,224,512. For the disclosureof this invention, it is suflicientto here state that when the door I3is moved to closed position, one of the latching heads 26 of the bolt II) rolls'into engagement with the keeper, and simultaneously, one of thedogging-heads I8 of the bolt moves into cooperative engagement with thedogs I6, as shown in Fig. 2. In such position of theparts, rotation ofthe bolt is prevented, and -the'door is thus latched in A detaileddescription of the function and and the laminations 22 which make up thelatching portion thereof, said disk closing the opening in thelatchhousing l2 through which'the bolt extends, as indicated in Fig. l,and preventing dirt and the like from accumulating on the interior partsof the latch, as will be readily understood.

As clearly shown in the accompanying drawings, the plate elements 22and'23 and the disk 2| are each provided with a centralbore 24 for thereception of the. stub shaft upon which they are mounted when assembledto form the bolt I0. Each of said plate elements 22 and 23 and the disk2| is also provided, around its central-bore 24, with a series ofapertures 25, each such series here comprising. four apertures, al-

though the number thereof obviously may be varied. As here shown, theapertures of the closed position, the springs I9 which engage said dogstending to constantly rotate the bolt into latchingposition. To open thedoor, the dogs I6 are moved out of their cooperative engagement with thedogging portion of the latch-bolt, by operation of the handle (notshown) for the door I3, as will be understood and as specificallypointed out in the aforesaid Endter patent.

In prior; latches of the character here involved, the rotary bolts havebeen in the formof one piece metal members, such as diecastings or thelike The present improved "rotary bolt I0, however, is of laminatedform, being assembled from a plurality of preformed. laminations of anysuitable sheet material such as metal, fibre, plastic and the like, orany combination of suchmaterials, thev several laminations being.effectively maintained in rigid assembly in the manner and by the meansto be hereinafter referred to.

. -As clearly shownin the accompanying drawings, the rotary bolt I!)here chosen for illustration has its latching portion I4 made up from aseries of plate elements 22, and itsdogging portion l5 made up from aseries of plate elements 23. Although-the number of plate elements ineach of said series may vary, as desired, there are five plate elementsin each series in the present embodiment of the invention. As clearlyshown in Fig. 5, the five plate elements 23 which make up the doggingportion l5 of the rotary bolt have their peripheralcontours shapedto-provide dog-.-

ging heads for use with the dog H5, and as clearly shown in Fig. 7, thefiveplate elements 22 which make up the latching portion I4 of therotary bolt have their peripheral contours shaped to provide latchingheads for use with the latch keeper (not shown). Althoughthepresentinvention is not limited thereto, theseveral plate elements 22which make up the latching portion I4 of the bolt are of identical formand hence are interchange able; Similarly, the several plate members 23'which'make up'the dogging portion I5 of the bolt areof identical formand hence are interchangee able. However, as here shown, the plateelements 22 differ from theplate elements 23 in peripheral contour,,althoughas just stated, the present in- If desired and as here shown, adisk 2| may be interposed between the laminations 23 which make up thedogging portion of the rotary bolt plate elements 22 and 23 are locatedin the heads thereof, although the present invention is not limited tosuch a location therefor.

,As shown in the accompanying drawings, the plate elements 22 and theplate elements 23 are disposed on opposite sides of the central spacingdisk 2|, with the central bores thereof in alignment and with theapertures. 25 thereof in registry. Extending throughe'ach set ofregistered apertures 25 is'a loplringpin 27, the ends of the pinsbeingheaded over, as shownin Fig. 8, ,to maintain the plate elements 22 and23 and the spacing disk 2I.in rigidass'embly. If desired and as hereshov'rn, the outer faces of the two end .plate elements, designated" bythe reference numerals 28 and 29,,may be recessed, as at 30, around theapertures 25'fthereof to receive the heads of the pins 21,. to therebyprovide a rotary bolt with flat end faces, asfshown in Fig.8. Also,

. if desired and as here shown, the outer peripheral heads thanthelatching portion, or said heads may be an'gularly displaced to suchan extent, by reason of the position ofthe keeper or the dogs, that itis impossible to locate the apertures 25 in the latching and doggingheads while still maintaining registry of said apertures in both thelatching and do ging portions. .In this'event,

the apertures may beidisp'osed in someother:1oca tio'n, for instancecloser to the central bore, whereby registry of the apertures can stillbe effected.v

While the plate and disk elements herein'above.

describedmay be formed from metal, such as the various available ferrousmetals and alloys, one satisfactory material beinga grade of mild steel,other materials of sufiicientrigidity and otherwise desirablecharacteristicsare suitable, such ascertain grades of fiber board, rawhide, papi'ermach, etc. There is this available a wide range ofmaterials for selection, affording a choice, for

instance, of various types of surfaces from which the user may obtaingre ater durability, longer wear, silent operation, or such otherproperties as may beeh'ara'cter'istic of the partieidarmaterialor'materials selected.

vention.

The latch fragmentarily shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has three dogs l6 whichfunction, as already described. It may be noted that as here shown, thewidth of the contacting face of a do I6 is greater than that of anysingle lamination of the dogging portion of the bolt, three dogsequalling, in lateral extent, four such laminations. While certainstructural advantages may attend this arrangement, the present inventionis not limited thereto, but embraces a rotary bolt wherein eachlamination of the dogging portion of the bolt has a corresponding dog,substantially coextensive in lateral extent therewith; and wherein thecam contour of neighboring laminations, which thus function withneighboring dogs, may vary progressively to produce a progressiveadvance in the order in which the dogs take hold, thereby decreasing theinitial frictional resistance attendant upon simultaneous engagement ofall dogs. With a bolt of such construction, the dogs may be identicalsize and contour, as will be readily understood.

Although the several structural elements of a rotary bolt such as abovedescribed may be fabricated and assembled in a number of ways, one suchmethod is as follows:

A strip of plate of suitable material is first provided with asuccession of grouped openings, each group comprising a centrallylocated bore 24 and a plurality of apertures 25 spaced therearound. Saidplate or strip is then subjected to a further stamping operation so asto produce a plurality of plate-like member (Figs 4 to 7 inclusive) ofthe desired peripheral contour, each such member including a pluralityof apertures 25 and a central bore 24. For the form of rotary bolt heredisclosed, three types of such stamped elements will be provided,consisting respectively of latching elements 22, dogging elements 23 anddisk-like elements 2|. Where extreme precision is desired, the platesthus formed may be subjected to a shaving operation on their peripheriesand central bores to remove any taper which may be present, etc. Ifdesired, the several plates may be flattened in a suitable press at anysuitable stage in their manufacture to eliminate any deformation orwarpage resulting from any of the preceding fabricating steps. A minorproportion of the plates, namely, those for use as end plates, may havetheir spaced apertures countersunk on one face and their peripheraledges rounded or beveled on the same face by a coining operation.

A group of plate members, fabricated as aforee said, and consisting of amatchedset of latching elements 22 and a matched set of dogging elements23 are assembled respectively On opposite sides of a disk 2| in themanner indicated in Fig. 4 and held in assembled, stacked relationshipby any suitable means, with the central bores 24 in alignment and withthe apertures .25 in registry. Pins 21 are then inserted through theregistered apertures 25, said pins preferably fitting snugly to maintainthe ,arranged position of the plate members, and the pins extendingbeyond the outer surfaces of the two end plates sufiicient distances forthe heading operation now to be described.

The assembly may then be placed upon a base plate suitably recessed toreceive and align the bottom protruding ends of pins 21, while the upperprotruding ends are headed into the countersunk recesses of the endplates 28 and 29 by using a suitable perforated pressure plate inconjunction with heading plungers. The unit may then be reversed, andsupported on a fiat base while the other ends of the pins are similarlyheaded. A completed unitjthus asseme bled and rigidly locked, may, ifdesired, be subjected to a tumbling operation and may then, if desired,be cadmium plated or zinc plated.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily. apparent to those skilled in the art to which the presentinvention relates. I

What I claim is:

l. A rotary latch bolt comprising a latch portion for cooperativeengagement with a keeper, a dogging portion for cooperative engagementwith a series of identical dogging elements, each said portioncomprising a series of laminations,.

each of the laminations of the latching portion having a series ofperipherally spaced latching heads, and each of the laminations of thedogging portion having a series of peripherally spaced dogging heads,there being a respective dogging element disposed to individually engagea dogging head of each lamination, the corresponding engageable surfacesof the series of dogging head laminations being progressively offset,each from the next, whereby to secure a respectively progressive advancein the order in which each dogging element engages its respectivedogging head during one operation of said latch bolt.

2. A rotary latch bolt comprising a latch portion for cooperativeengagement with a keeper, a dogging portion for cooperative engagementwith a series of identical dogging elements, each.

said portion comprising a series of alternate metallic andnon-metalliclaminations, each of the laminations of the latching portionhaving a series of peripherally spaced latching heads, and each of thelaminations of the dogging portion having a series of peripherallyspaced dogging heads, there being a respective dogging element disposedto individually engage a dogging head of each lamination, thecorresponding engageable surfaces of the series of dogging head lamina-

